President Donald Trump’s traditional approach to American history is extending to Columbus Day with a proclamation celebrating Italian explorer Christopher Columbus as “the original American hero” and accusing his critics of slander.

"Outrageously, in recent years, Christopher Columbus has been a prime target of a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage," reads the proclamation, which Trump signed Oct. 9 ahead of the Oct. 13 holiday.

A federal holiday since 1892, Columbus Day is marked on the second Monday in October. But some states and cities have celebrated the date as Indigenous Peoples Day, or commemorate both.

Former President Joe Biden recognized both Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day in 2021 amid widespread concerns that honoring the explorer glorifies the exploitation and genocide of native peoples. Biden was the first president to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.

"We're calling it Columbus Day," Trump said Oct. 9.

Trump's focus on Columbus Day comes as his administration has targeted alleged "woke" policies and institutions, including eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government and withholding funding from some universities.

Trump has complained for years that Columbus, who landed in the Americas in 1492, is being mistreated as his legacy is reevaluated.

“Columbus Day we’re back, Italians," Trump said Oct. 9. "We love the Italians”

Trump in an April social media post railed against what he described as an effort by Democrats to "destroy" the explorer's reputation, saying his political rivals "tore down his Statues, and put up nothing but 'WOKE,' or even worse, nothing at all!"

The Trump administration has taken a keen interest in how U.S. history is presented. For example, it launched a review of the Smithsonian Institution and its iconic museums in August. The administration wants to "remove divisive or partisan narratives" and "celebrate American exceptionalism," according to a letter launching the review.

The president laid the groundwork for the Smithsonian review with an executive order in March entitled "restoring truth and sanity to American history." The order was met with criticism from some historians who questioned whether it would allow for a balanced and accurate telling of history.

Biden in his 2021 proclamation on Columbus Day acknowledged "the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities."

"It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past — that we face them honestly, we bring them to the light, and we do all we can to address them," the proclamation continued.

Biden also said the day should be one of reflection on the "courage and contributions of Italian Americans throughout the generations."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'We're back, Italians.' Trump ditches Indigenous Peoples Day to honor Christopher Columbus

Reporting by Zac Anderson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect